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Published by: Dynamite Comics
Released on: July 23, 2014
This one-shot takes on some of the training/origin of the master, as he learns magical secrets from another master, Harry Houdini.
[SPOILERS ARE KNOWN TO OCCUR BELOW]
The story opens in 1925 with Lamont Cranston in a manacled straight-jacket, submerged upside-down in water, ruminating on the importance of mastering both life and death if he wants to become a true shadow. Houdini is less than impressed with the time he's taking, though, and tells Lamont he'll have to condition himself better. He then sets about doing just that, dunking Lamont back down into the icy water to try again…
The scene then cuts to “present day†1936 with The Shadow in Los Angeles, thinking about secrets and escapes and magicians as he steals into the secret HQ of the Society of United Magicians. This society, started by Houdini himself, has become corrupt in the years since that master's passing and, this night, they now hold Houdini's widow, Bess, hoping to extract from her the secrets her departed husband told her when he contacted her recently from that far shore…
As he works through their series of traps and pitfalls, wondering if it's all for his own benefit or some attempt at initiation, he flashes back to 1925 again. This time, Lamont is bound with heavy chains, covered with scorpions. He breaks free and chides Houdini for selecting a barely-poisonous breed. But that master speaks to the need for the dramatic/theatrical, how it inspires fear and excitement that he can control.
Back to L.A. and new challenges involving shooting fire and spinning saw blades confront The Shadow which he easily passes, commenting on the sad state of this society and how rotten they must be. He flashes back again to Houdini's training, the master telling him that defeating a single obstacle isn't the same as finding one's goal, that behind one broken lock is another, more challenging. Whoever tackles such paths must be ready, to have the right tools and mental preparation, even for the ultimate obstacle of death.
The Shadow has bypassed all the society's traps and, soon, is above the room where they're holding Bess. After they slap her down to the floor in their attempt to learn what secrets Houdini passed from beyond the grave, The Shadow makes himself known and the fight commences. The society members use a variety of tricks, the usual fare now turned lethal. He's able to parry them, though, until a few remain who use a very effective disappearing act to vanish.
He takes Bess back to his hotel to convalesce and it's there she tells him that Harry did indeed speak to her recently. He told her some amazing, incredible things which she then relates to Lamont. He agrees with her that such things would be sought after by deadly men and that it's perhaps best if she forgot them (as he turns that hypnotic ring toward her). He sees Harry in the flames of the fireplace, his spirit then moving among them, comforting Bess and giving Lamont to think that death is perhaps only a new beginning altogether…
This one-off story from Cullen Bunn is a fantastic read as would naturally stem from pairing The Shadow with the great Harry Houdini. It also provides some great introduction to the famous character for those just getting to know him as well so this single issue release serves both new and long-time fans equally. Colton Worley's artwork is great here, too, thickly shadowed, punctuated with light and danger nicely. An excellent one-shot that's well worth picking up.
